Mercedes-Benz: V-Class concept car with a PLUG-IN HYBRID drive

At the Geneva International Motor Show the Concept V ision e from Mercedes-Benz presents a preview of the great variety of development potential offered by the V-Class.

The concept vehicle combines environmentally friendly performance with the lightness of modern luxury. The most advanced PLUG-IN HYBRID technology available ensures extremely powerful propulsion in the model, as the highly efficient drive-system duo consisting of a gasoline engine and an electric motor delivers total system output of 245 kW (333 hp) and system torque of up to 600 Nm. This guarantees sporty driving performance, even as rated fuel consumption amounts to less than 3.0 liters per 100 km. The vehicle can travel up to 50 km in the all-electric mode, making short daily trips a locally emission-free delight. The interior of the Concept V ision e offers a unique feeling of comfort in a modern loft-like atmosphere. The biggest panoramic sliding roof in the mid-size-van segment floods the spacious interior with light. In combination with bright white appointments and a brown real-wood floor, this creates a previously unattained feeling of expansiveness, freedom, and lightness. Additional possibilities for personalizing the V Class are offered by numerous new comfort features, such as rear executive seats with calf support, a massage function, and footrests, as well as a large center console with thermal cup holders and a five-liter cooler.

“The Concept V ision e demonstrates the potential the Mercedes among MPVs will offer in the future when it comes to accommodating our customers’ wishes — and market demand — by offering greater exclusivity and more personalization options,” says Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans. “Our pioneering Mercedes-Benz PLUG-IN HYBRID technology has enabled us to increase the output of the most powerful V Class at the moment by 105 kW, even as we’ve lowered fuel consumption to the level of a compact. That’s what I call forward-looking performance enhancement.”

PLUG-IN HYBRID: Sporty performance at the highest level of efficiency

The Concept V ision e utilizes the same advanced drive system that ensures the extraordinary dynamic handling and efficiency in the new Mercedes-Benz C 350 e. Its four-cylinder gasoline engine has an output of 155 kW (210 hp) and develops a maximum torque of 350 Nm, while the electric motor delivers 90 kW and 340 Nm of torque. This results in a system output of 245 kW (333 hp) and a system torque of up to 600 Nm. The Concept V ision e sprints from 0–100 km/h in 6.1 seconds, which makes this hybrid even faster out of the box than the current V 250 BlueTEC top engine variant — and more than well equipped to overtake other vehicles quickly. The model’s top speed is 206 km/h. Its NEDC fuel consumption of 3.0 liters per 100 km corresponds to CO2 emissions of 71 g per km. The MPV concept can travel up to 50 km in the all-electric mode if driven at a maximum speed of 80 km/h. This means that short daily trips to work, for example, can be driven completely emission free, which offers a major environmental benefit in cities especially.

Energy for the electric motor is stored in a high-voltage lithium-ion battery with a total capacity of 13.5 kWh. The high-voltage battery can be recharged using an external power source and thus makes a very effective contribution to the model’s low fuel consumption and emissions. The vehicle’s intelligent drive-system management program automatically selects the ideal combination of combustion engine and electric motor. The range of options here includes a nearly silent electrical start (silent start), use of the electric motor to support the gasoline engine during acceleration, for example (boost), and energy recovery (recuperation) during braking and when the vehicle is coasting. All recovered energy is stored in the battery and can later be used for electric driving or for the boost function. Drivers can also manage hybrid interaction manually, in which case they can choose from four different modes (Hybrid, E-Mode, E-Save and Charge) that can be selected using a switch.

Sporty exterior and a modern, loft-like interior

The extraordinary handling and efficiency of the high-tech hybrid drive system is underscored by the exterior design of the Concept V ision e. The concept vehicle has a fascinating designo titanium alubeam paint and a sporty-aerodynamic styling. Sporty side skirts and bumpers, a rear spoiler and multi-spoke 20-inch wheels with a high-sheen polish give the V Class a distinctly athletic and agile look.

The interior of the Concept V ision e brings to mind the atmosphere of a modern loft — sun-drenched luxurious spaciousness. Virtually the entire roof of the vehicle is made of glass. The 1.92 x 1.12-m panoramic sliding sunroof is divided into two sections and lets in an extraordinary amount of light. Combined with the white nappa leather and white DINAMICA microfiber material that seem to float above the contrasting dark floor made of English walnut, the roof creates an incomparable feeling of expansiveness, freedom, and lightness.

Executive seats, comfortable tables and a large center console

Along with the panoramic sliding sunroof with MAGIC SKY CONTROL, the Concept V ision e also includes other new equipment features that make for even greater comfort and more varied personalization options for the V Class as a private or business vehicle — and for even more exclusive tastes as well.

The executive seats in the rear offer outstanding additional comfort, especially on longer journeys. As is the case in the S Class, these seats are ideal for either concentrated work or relaxation. The push of a button is all it takes to recline the seats into a lying position with an inclination of up to 49 degrees. With their integrated calf supports, separate footrests, and additional pillows, the seats offer the highest degree of sleeping comfort or relaxation when fully reclined. The executive seats are also equipped with a three-stage heating and ventilation system and a relaxing massage feature. Because the V Class interior is so spacious, the executive seats can be combined with standard individual seats or optional seat benches as well. They thus expand the wide variety of seating configuration options in the Mercedes-Benz MPV in a most exclusive way.

The Concept V ision e provides a comfortable working environment with two foldable convenient tables and two iPad holders integrated into the driver and front-passenger seat backrests. Each of the tables is 35 x 35 cm, which offers sufficient space for documents. The table surfaces are covered in white nappa leather. The iPad holder can be tilted and rotated 90 degrees and is equipped with an integrated charging interface and two USB charging ports. Another new feature that benefits both the rear passengers and the driver and front passenger is the large center console. It offers several cup holders, a large stowage compartment, USB ports, an SD card slot, a five-liter cooler as well as a 220-V and a 12-V socket.

Concept V ision e: The V Class is becoming even more personalized

From its sporty exterior design to its exclusive comfort features and environmentally friendly PLUG-IN HYBRID drive system — the Concept V ision e makes it clear that the Mercedes among MPVs offers enormous potential in terms of the versatility required to meet varied customer requirements and wishes. Regardless of whether it’s used as a private vehicle by families and people who participate in a lot of leisure activities, or as a luxury business sedan, the V Class will offer even more personalization options in the future. The Concept V ision e thus underscores the V Class claim of being the ideal vehicle for anyone interested in a spacious model with its very own style — and one that offers the highest degree of comfort and an ultra-modern drive system to power it.

Expansion of the V-Class product range by new body lengths and all-wheel drive models

Since its market launch at the end of May 2014 the V-Class has been performing extremely well. In the second half of 2014 Mercedes-Benz Vans achieved sales growth of almost 20 percent for the MPV compared with the same period last year. “Our V-Class is well received by our customers. In 2015 we will continue this course for growth with the introduction of further body lengths and all-wheel drive models as well as new features“, says Volker Mornhinweg.

Already since January the V-Class is also available in the body lengths compact (4.895 mm length and 3.200 mm wheelbase) and extra long (5.370 mm length and 3.430 mm wheelbase with extended overhang). Moreover since March customers can not only order the top-motorization V 250 BlueTEC (140 kW/190 hp), but also the models V 200 CDI (100 kW/136 hp) and V 220 CDI (120 kW/163 hp) with 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive system. The all-wheel drive system is available for all three body lengths. This leads to an expansion of the Mercedes-Benz V-Class product range to a total of 18 different versions this year. Beyond that a heating for the comfort individual seats in the rear will be available on demand from September on.